Farmingdale residents and employees of local business are invited to join corporate executives across Long Island who are preparing now for their annual rite of summer. The 3.5 mile JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge (open to runners, walkers and joggers) will celebrate its 18th running at Jones Beach on Tuesday, July 29 beginning at 7 p.m. The race will benefit the Companions in Courage Foundation (CIC) and feature a special appearance by former New York Islanders' hockey standout Pat LaFontaine, who will be on hand to start the race, which begins and ends at Parking Field 5, near the intersection of Wantagh Parkway and Ocean Drive.

Farmingdale Physical Therapy, Duro Dyne National Corporation, J. D'Addario & Company Inc., Mount Ararat Cemetery, Multiline Technology, PC Richard & Son, Farmingdale State University and Telephonics, all located in Farmingdale, were among the more than 300 companies that competed in last year's JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge, an event owned and operated by J. P. Morgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM). The race has seen its participation rise each year, topping out at more than 9,000 runners last year. The international series is now in its 27th year, starting in 1977 with 200 runners from 50 companies in one New York City race and has grown to over 200,000 competitors annually in 17 races in 13 cities in four countries.

Long Island supports the Corporate Challenge as enthusiastically as any city in the worldwide series. The event has grown in 16 of its 17 years and is considered the corporate social event of the season on Long Island. Last summer, the Corporate Challenge featured an appearance by NHL Hall-of-Famer and former Islander Clark Gillies.

Like Gillies, LaFontaine is a beloved former Islander who remains committed to the Long Island community. He spent eight seasons of a glorious NHL career with the Islanders, and scored 54 goals during the 1989-1990 season, making him one of only three Islanders to score 50 or more goals in a single season. LaFontaine and his wife Marybeth are building a new home on Long Island, where their children Sarah, Brianna and Daniel are actively involved in local youth programs.

The LaFontaines founded the CIC during Pat's years with the Buffalo Sabres. The organization's goal is to create interactive playrooms in children's hospitals throughout North America, with the aim to take infirmed children psychologically out of the often-isolating hospital experience, via a host of innovative communications tools and experiences. These tools will enable children and caregivers to make connections, play games, share experiences and uniquely enrich their time spent in the hospital.

"Through innovative communications tools, these playrooms will replace the isolation of a hospital with a connection to family, friends and celebrities during their hospital stay," LaFontaine said.

LaFontaine will serve as the official starter for the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge in Long Island and will be cheering runners in from the finish line.

The entry fee for the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge on Long Island is $18 for those who register by July 28. Those interested in registering for the Challenge may visit www.jpmorganchasecc.com to be directed to printable registration forms. Runners must enter as part of a corporate team, there is no size restriction to how many employees may enter.

Corporate teams that are looking to qualify for the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge Championship in New York City should be aware of a scoring change for 2003. When notecards are submitted, note that a men's team is now four men (down from five), a women's team is four women (up from three) and the mixed teams remain two men and two women.

In addition to the Companions in Courage Foundation, JPMorgan Chase will also continue its annual support of the New York State Natural Heritage Trust. The Trust is a New York public benefit corporation administered by the State Parks Department that aids an array of cultural arts and recreation programs.

For more information on how to register for the 2003 JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge in Long Island, call 349-7649 or visit www.jpmorganchasecc.com.